This was published 4 years ago
No Giannis, no problem: Bucks force fifth game, Lakers tie it up
By Tim Reynolds
Lake Buena Vista, Florida: The Milwaukee Bucks lost the first three games of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, then lost the NBA’s MVP while trying to fend off elimination.
No problem.
The Bucks aren’t done yet.
Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing most of the game with a sprained right ankle, the Bucks extended their season to a game five on Tuesday. Khris Middleton scored 21 of his 36 points in the third quarter, then made a huge three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in overtime and the Bucks topped the Miami Heat 118-115 in game four of their series Sunday.
“Just keep fighting,” said Middleton, who also had eight rebounds and eight assists. “That’s all my teammates did.”
Miami still leads the series 3-1 but will surely spend the next two days lamenting how this one got away. The Heat gave up 12 straight points in the final period Sunday, wasting what was an eight-point lead in a close-out game.
NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points in just 11 minutes before he was forced from the court.Credit: Getty
Bam Adebayo had 26 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for Miami. Duncan Robinson scored 20 points, Jae Crowder had 18 and Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler each finished with 17 for the Heat.
Antetokounmpo scored 19 points for the Bucks in only 11 minutes, while Brook Lopez and George Hill each had 14 for Milwaukee.
Miami managed only two points in the first 4:30 of overtime, got within one on a three-pointer from Tyler Herro, but Middleton delivered the biggest shot of the night to make it 116-112.
Herro made another three with 3.0 seconds left, but Middleton sealed it with a pair of free throws.
Khris Middleton had 21 of his 36 points in the third quarter before launching a crucial three in overtime.Credit: Getty
Antetokounmpo had 19 of Milwaukee’s first 30 points, shooting 8-for-10 from the floor. But in an instant, everything changed for the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo aggravated his sprained right ankle with 10:18 left in the second quarter, rolling it inward - just as he did in game three on Friday - as he tried to drive past Miami’s Andre Iguodala. He tumbled to the court, grabbing the ankle and screaming in pain.
He took the free throws; without doing that, he would not have been permitted to return. But at half-time, the Bucks delivered the word that he would not be back.
So, his game was over.
The Bucks’ season wasn’t.
The Lakers, meanwhile, tied their series against Houston at 1-1 following a 117-109 win. LeBron James had 29 points and 11 rebounds while Anthony Davis had 34 points and 10 boards.